Exodus Cycle Indochina & Angkor

• All breakfasts, 1 dinner
• All accommodation
• All transport and listed activities
• Tour leader throughout
• Flights from London (if booking incl. flights)
• Arrival & departure transfers
• Local bike hire

• Cycle through 3 countries
• Discover awe-inspiring ancient monuments
• Explore incredible Angkor by bike
• Wander the streets of Phnom Penh, an exciting city with a frontier feel
• The fertile Mekong Delta and Saigon, Vietnam’s most vibrant city
• Experience a taste sensation with mouth-watering cuisine

Day 1: Depart London

Day 2: Arrive Bangkok

There will be a group meeting and briefing with your leader in the evening followed by an optional group dinner for those that would like to join.

Day 3: Early transfer to Nakorn Nayok N.P; warm-up ride on jungle roads/trail

An early start this morning as we venture out of Bangkok to the ancient town of Ayuttaya. Our two hour transfer takes us into the heart of this fascinating site and we start cycling by the huge reclining Buddha. Much of the old town was destroyed by the Burmese in the 18th Century and we will cycle through the remaining shrine towers and enormous temples to appreciate the past magnificence.

Day 4: Cycle to Sa Keaw

Today we follow minor roads through rural Thai landscapes including rubber and eucalyptus plantations as well as tapioca and rice fields. There are a few easy rolling hills but the route is mostly flat.

Day 5: Ride to Aranyaprathet

Leaving our hotel early in the morning we ride towards Tha Krabak where we can stop by a reservoir for a swim and a view of the untouched jungle on the other side. We will break for lunch before carrying on cycling on quiet but well-maintained scenic roads on the way to Aranyaprathet, 10km from the Cambodian border

Day 6: Into Cambodia and on to Siem Reap

After breakfast we drive to the busy border and complete customs formalities as we cross into Cambodia at Poipet. We then drive to Siem Reap. Due to years of civil war the country is poorer and less developed than its neighbours. Apart from growth in the capital and around Siem Reap, the way of life in the countryside is still very much the same as it has been for centuries. This afternoon’s ride from Siem Reap takes us past Wat Athvea, a modern temple in the grounds of the ruins of an Angkorian temple, and ends at a market and picnic area outside of Siem Reap.

Day 7: First of two full days to explore the temple complex of Angkor by bus and bike

Today we may choose to have an early start to avoid the inevitable crowds drawn to the wonders of Angkor. The various temples are spread over a wide area and are linked by shady avenues; meandering our way between them by bike gives us a unique perspective. Our cycle tour will include the jungle-covered Ta Prohm, with the amazing roots of the Fromagier trees clinging to the ancient stones, Angkor Thom with the famous Bayon temple of 37 towers

Day 8: Second day at Angkor temple complex

Today we cycle outside the main Angkor complex to the outlying temple of Banteay Srei, 35km from Siem Reap town. Our route takes us past paddy fields, and through pretty villages. Banteay Srei was built in the 10th Century and contains some of the finest examples of Khmer sculpture. Although much smaller than the later temples, here all of the buildings are covered in exquisite carvings. In the afternoon as we cycle back to Siem Reap we can stop and visit a few of the less visited Angkor temples. Siem Reap town is pleasant to wander around; the market has plenty of interest and excellent shopping and there is a vibrant nightlife scene.

Day 9: Drive to Phnom Penh, stopping at Skuon

Today we take a bus journey of approximately 7 hours along National Road 6 to Phnom Penh, with a couple of stops along the way. We visit Sambor Prei Kuk, Cambodia’s most impressive group of pre-Angkorian monuments with some of the oldest structures in the country. We’ll also pause for a traditional Khmer lunch at a community restaurant before stopping in the town Skuon, which is known for its local delicacy of fried spiders.

Day 10: Sightseeing including Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda and Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and the ‘Killing Fields’

The fortunes of Phnom Penh have shifted dramatically during its history and the terrible years of the Khmer Rouge and subsequent civil war through the 1970s and 1980s have scarred the country. During our stay we visit two sites which give us a vivid impression of some of the horrors. There is the Genocide Museum, which is the former Khmer Rouge prison known as S-21 or Tuol Sleng, in the centre of the city.

Day 11: Transfer to Takeo then cycle to Vietnam border and Chau Doc

This morning we transfer south out of Phnom Penh to the town of Takeo. Here the road becomes quieter and we mount our bikes for the 50km ride to the Phnom Den / Tinh Bien border. Once border formalities have been completed, we cycle approximately 30km to Chau Doc.

Day 12: Drive/cycle through the Mekong Delta to Vinh Long; catch boat to homestay

This morning we ride from our hotel along a lovely quiet backroad, lined with small villages and dwellings before stopping for lunch and transferring the rest of the way to Vinh Long by bus. Leaving the bikes on the mainland, we take another boat (20 minutes) to reach our homestay guesthouse on an island in the Mekong Delta, known as the ‘rice bowl’ of Vietnam. After settling in we can explore the area on foot. The rivers and canals of the Mekong Delta form an amazing network of waterways.

Day 13: Transfer to Cai Be for floating market; scenic cycle along Mekong riverbank; transfer to Saigon

We leave by boat, stopping en route for a look at the Cai Be floating market. Here large boats moor up in the Mekong River, weighed down with fruit and vegetable produce. Local traders and shop owners buy in bulk in this strictly ‘wholesale’ market. A little further on we make a short stop to see cottage industries producing such items as popped rice, pancakes, wine and other homemade products. We start our ride towards Cai Lay where we take a scenic route through fruit orchards and along the Mekong riverbank. Back on the bus in My Tho, we drive on to the heat, hustle and bustle of Ho Chi Minh City, still usually known as Saigon.

Day 14: Free day

The whole day is free to explore Saigon, do some shopping and to relax. There are a number of interesting things to see – the Saigon River, Ben Thanh Market, Reunification Palace and Notre Dame Cathedral are all within easy walking distance. Alternatively a short cyclo (cycle taxi) ride will take you to the War Remnants Museum with an interesting (if a little gruesome) photographic record of the Vietnam/American War.

Day 15: Fly to London

Day 16: Arrive in London

• 10 nights comfortable hotels, 2 nights standard hotels, 1 night standard guesthouse to experience some ‘Mekong Delta’ hospitality, all with en suite facilities
• 9 days cycling with 95% vehicle support
• Good tarmac in Thailand and Cambodia, with some easy dirt roads in Vietnam
• Traffic levels higher near the larger towns, so you should be comfortable riding occasionally in traffic

You will spend 10 nights in comfortable hotels, 2 nights in standard hotels and 1 night in a standard guesthouse to experience some ‘Mekong Delta’ hospitality, all of them have en suite facilities. Please note that double beds are not always widely available in South East Asia.

Please note, prices listed are guide prices only and are based on 2 people sharing and don’t include any additional supplements. Holiday prices are fluid and dynamic and may be changed at a moment’s notice, prior to booking, at which point they are confirmed. Please call the team free on 0800 707 6229 for more departure dates available and a quote.